Hambrageorge Lincoln & St.Patty's Day

When my youngest son saw these dolls he said, "Oh Mom that's Hambrageorge Lincoln." Close enough son, close enough.

Why did I spend time making George and Abe dolls? Because I thought it would be funny to put bushy eyebrows and a beard on one of the dolls. AND Because my favorite day substitute teaching last year was in a 1st grade classroom that had been magnificently taught about these founding father's & totally impressed me with their knowledge! Now this year my son is in this classroom and these are for his teacher just for fun. I have never been above being a brown noser after all!

My mother in law is a huge St.Patrick day fan so these were inspired by her. Honestly I have been thinking of a reason to buy the rainbow stripe fabric for a while and this fit the bill! I have a few left for $15.

The really exciting part of my week was a custom order request for an a-list client. A nationally recognized Highland Games Athlete has commissioned me to make Highland Game dolls. I have been pleating mini kilts in my spare time this week and almost have some Highland Games dolls ready! In March the Women's World Championship will be in Phoenix AZ. Hooray!

Valentine doll & Arizona doll

Did you know that it is Arizona's birthday on February 12th? What an exciting day! Since I am a true blue Arizona girl I thought it would be fun to make some Arizona dolls. Decorate for AZ's birthday or mail your out of town family a cute gift!

 Of course we can't forget Valentine's Day! These conversation heart leggings will get a smile from your Valentine for sure! Don't miss out on these cuties!

Faux Pin Wheel Curtain

I saw a real pin wheel curtain in a magazine a few years ago and fell in love with it. I attempted doing my own a few times. Made some circles of fabric, sewed the edges, pulled it tight, made the pin wheel. I think my max completed was 8 any time I tried to do it.

Then I remembered how my mom made my gumball machine costume in 1992 (long before pinterest gave her the idea). She used double sided Pelon (a thin webbing of glue that you can use to fuse fabric together) to put on all the gumball circles.

So I rounded up all my scrap fabric and made this project. It took much less fabric and time than a real pin wheel curtain would have. I always fall in love with the prints I purchase. I love them so much I hang on to scraps that probably should be thrown away, but now I have all my lovely prints preserved in my new faux pin wheel curtain!

This bookshelf pictured was at one time a lovely display area of cool stuff (ostrich eggs, giant conch shells, and other delicate items) but 4 kids and 3 moves later its now a combination toy box and utility closet - so I am happy to hide the junk.

Nativity Family and Christmas Dolls

Thanksgiving pilgrim dolls were super fun and festive, but its time to move on to Christmas!

The Christmas dolls have peppermint hair, Christmas tree stockings and a hand painted gold gilded tree. $15 total.

The Nativity family has Mary, Joseph, and sweet little baby Jesus. Jesus is wrapped in a darling birdy blanket. Since Mary and Joseph are the kind of couple who work together they both can carry the baby in the shoulder slings. $30 total. Kids and grandkids can hug and squeeze this Nativity family all day long! December 6th local delivery or shipping available.

More Pilgrim-iar

I couldn't stop with Thanksgiving dolls until I made a better looking pilgrim man. The finished product! I am satisfied

Large Fabric Puzzle Ball

I found a tutorial for this when my 1st son was a baby. It was much smaller and graspable by the baby. This one is a little overwhelming for the baby we have now, but its still a fun soft toy. It is also called an "Amish puzzle ball." When I was a cub scout leader the scouts loved to play with it as well because its strange looking and fun. We would stand in a circle and everyone would have a kitchen spoon and they would have to catch the ball with the spoon and toss it back and forth with a spoon. This time I went even bigger with the ball. Really easy to make with scrap fabric. A great use for scrap fabric I would say! My big kids help me stuff all of the footballs and were surprised when they woke up and I had sewn it into the shape that the final product is. It would even be a fun math lesson for a teacher in regards to factors and dividing and groups. Lots can be done with this unique project!

A Piece of Mom's Magic Second Generation

What is one of my best memories from being raised in the home I was raised in? My mom kept our house exciting. How? By decorating for the holidays. She didn't blow up the place with knick knacks and large holiday pieces, or even cover much space, but she kept it fun and festive.

The mirror above the piano was usually where she would sprinkle in some holiday cheer. Garland's and small holiday pieces were just enough to keep me looking forward to the next scene change. Having something to look forward to, even something as silly as Valentine's day, brings excitement and hope to the heart.

I have since attempted to do this same thing in my home. My kids get just as big of a kick out of my holiday scene changes as I did with my Mom. Admittedly I am not prepared for as many holiday scene changes as my mind has dreamed of.

Valentine's day decorating, I feel, is my consistent biggest home run over the years. One year I made the effort of making a Valentine's day doll. I had already been making fabric dolls for my daughter and to give as presents, but this one was specifically tailored for the holiday. It became my all time favorite decoration. My kids freak out when I get it out each Valentines day. They will ask (and most often sneak) to hold it and it generated excitement for the time of year it was. Holiday scene mission accomplished.

It was such a hit that I thought to myself, "You should make a holiday doll for all the holiday's." I never did, until now. I am jumping in with Thanksgiving dolls. My initial idea was Native American's and Pilgrims. I found some appealing fabric for the Native American dolls with gorgeous turquoise accents, but found myself struggling to stay true to a "pilgrim" color scheme (thinking black and grey with white collars) and couldn't bring myself to do it. So my pilgrims are a little more cheerful in the apparel than they realistically would be - but hey if I can't be creative with my own strange hobby than when can I be! 

I am pleased with the outcome of these Thanksgiving dolls. I had my handsome son Charles help me with the scene for the background of our holiday scene picture. He colored in the line work I drew and helped me pose the dolls and Thanksgiving feast items. Oh and Orson the baby boy in the family donated the use of his plastic kitchen food. Definitely a real group effort. Time will tell if I can follow through with my goal and get some holiday dolls made for the last of this year's events and carry it home through 2016.